Automatic control device



c. s. FALKNER.

AUTOMATIC CONTROL DE V|CE. APPLICATION FILED ocr. 16, 1916.

1,305,205. v Patented May 27, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

' l II 4/ 40 I35 5/- .C. G. FALKNER.

AUTOMATIJ; comm DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED OCT-16. 1916.

1,305,205; v PatentedMa zr, 1919. Ti 2 4-SHEETSSHEET 2.

0, e. FALKNER. AUTOMATIC CONTROL DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-16,1916.

Patehted May 27, 1919.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

. lllllllllllllm c. G. FALKNER.

AUTOMATIC CONTROL DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED ocr. |6, l9l6.

Patented May 27, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

cm 6. Feminism, or Barron, oiairo."

A u'romamc con'riaor. DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CARL Gnome FALKNER,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county ofMontgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new an d usefulImprovements in Automatic Control Devices, of which the following is aspecification. My invention relates to automatic nonrepeat mechanism oroperation-determining means by which the succeeding operation, of agiven mechanism is limited to a predetermined number of cycles.

The object of the invention is to simplify the structure as well ias themeans'and mode of operation of such devices whereby they will-not onlybe cheapened in construction but will be more efiicient in operation,positive in action, accurate, easily and readily controlled, andunlikely to getout of repair.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby themechanism may be readily and quickly set to determine different numbersof operations at the will of the operator. g

A further object of the invention is to provide improved form of meansf'orautomatically disconnecting the driving and driven parts at thetermination of a predetermined cycle of operations.

With the above primary and other ;incidental objects in view, as Willmore fully appear in the specification, the invention consists of thefeatures of the construction, the parts and combinations thereof,- andthe mode of operation, or their equivalents, as hereinafter describedand set forth in the claims.

Referring to'the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the assembledapparatus shown in its normal or inactive position; Fig. 2 is the topplan view thereof. Fig.3 is a frontelevatiori thereof. Fig. 4: is a'detail side elevation'of the side oppositethat shown in Fig. .1, showingthe parts in oper- "cinematographic camera or some other mechanismandcarries a drlve .pulley etc ate'd position. Fig. 5 isa detail sideelevation of the restoring means. Fig. 6 is adetail perspective view ofthe series of timing;

disks. Fig. 7 isa detail'interior view of the driving clutch. Fig. 8 isa detail view of Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 27, 1919.

Application filed October 16, 1916. Scri'al No. 126,050. 1

the clutch arresting, and releasing member. Fig. .9 is detail view ofcounter-operating means.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughouttheseveral views.

The apparatus forming the subject matter hereof was particularlydesigned for use in conjunction with cinematographic cameras, moreparticularly when employed for reproducing animated cartoons. Itis to beunderstood, however, that it is not limited to use in "conjunction withmoving picture cameras but may be readily applied to other uses forcontrolling various mechanisms wherein it is desired to limit thecycleof operations to predetermined numbers. In the production ofanimatedcartoons by the cinematographic process, a succession 0 pictunesare taken in each of several positions of the movin'gobject, the numberto be taken in the diiferent positions varying with the rapidity of themovement to be indicated. Thus in one-position a single exposure willcessfully portray the movement. The pres- 1 ent apparatus is designed toautomatically control the number of successive operations or exposuresby the operation of a single key or button. The apparatus as shown issuch that one, two, three or four exposures may be successivelymadeatthe will of the operator. The apparatus is adapted to limit theoperations to a predetermined number by automatically disconnecting-thedriving element at the end of the predetermined cycle. a

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a main frame 1, in which aremounted two.

parallel shafts 2 and 3. The shaft 2 is journaled for rotation in theain. vframe 1 while the shaft '3 may be fixed. The shaft 2 constitutesthe drive shaft for the controlled mechanism whether the same be a beoperatively connected by a b t or other- 'wise with a motoror otherprime mover.

be substituted for the pulley. The pulley 4 is loosely journaled uponthe shaft 2 and normally rotates thereon independent of the shaft underthe influence of the driving motor.

The pulley is provided with alaterally disposed peripheral flange 5forming in the side of the pulley 4 a recess or chamber 6. FiXedlysecured upon the shaft-2 within the chamber or recess 6 is a drivinghead 7, the periphery of which is notched or recessed to form shoulders8 and angularly arranged faces 9; Located adjacent to the driving head 7and loosely mounted upon the shaft 2 is a' clutch disk 10 carryingthereon a series of rollers 11 Which-extend within the chamber 6intermediate the angular. faces 9 of the driving head and the peripheralflange 5 of the pulley. Theserollers 11 are so arranged that theynormally contact the inner surface of the flange 5 which rotatesthereabout but are normally out of engagementwith the faces 9 of thedrivin head, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. However, upon a slightrotation of the clutch.

disk 10 forwardly the rollers 11, traveling concentrically about theinner surface of the flange 5, are brought into engagement withthe'angular faces 9 of the driving head and are forced or wedgedinto'tight engagement therewith, thereby causing the driving head torotate in unison with the pulley 4.

The clutch disk 10 is advanced in relation with the shaft and drivinghead to project the rollers 11 into engagement with the driving head andis held in advanced position by means of springs'12 seated in bores 13in the shoulders 8 and inclosed within reciprocatory sleeves 14, one ofwhich bears upon each of-the rollers 11 and tends to advance the rollersand the disk to engaging position.

In lieu of the spring 12 inclosed within the.

sleeves 1 1, which directly engage the rollers 11, a spring 15 seatedwithin a bore 16 in the shoulder8 and engaging a lug or ear 17projecting from inner face of the clutch disk 10 may be employed, asshown in Fig. 7 The construction is such that the pulley 4: normallyrotates loosely, upon shaft 2 until the clutch disk 10 is released forits initial or engaging movement under the influence of the springs 12or 15 according to the construction employed, whereupon the driving head7 and pulley are interengagedone with f the other and the shaft 2 is'rotated in unison with the pulley.

Located in parallel spacedrelation upon the shaft? is a series ofsetting elements or operation-determining disks. In the drawings therehave been shown four of these setting elements or disks, one of whichlimits the driving shaft 2 to a single rotation while the other settingelements limit the driving shaft to two, three and four rotations,respectively. For convenience in following the description these settingelements or disks have been designated on the drawings a a a ,-and a.The exponents indicate the number of operations or rota tions of theshaft 2 containedin the cycle determined by each of said setting disks.It will be obvious that any number of these setting disks may beemployed, each predetermihing a different number of-rotations of thedrive shaft. The setting disks are loosely journaled upon the shaft 3for independent oscillatory movement and are preferably separated orspaced one from the other by intermediate spacing sleeves 18. It will beobvious that other means of limiting the lateral movement of the disksmay be employed.

Extending transversely across the main frame 1 adjacent to the settingdisks before mentioned is a stop bar 19 adapted to be en.- gaged by alug .or projection-20 upon each of the disks. The stop lugsor-projections 20 are differently located in relation with the stop bar19 upon each of the disks. The stop lug 20 of the disk a is removed fromthe stop bar 19 a distance ofone unit or step while that of the disk ais spaced two units or steps from the stop bar, and the stop lugs oftheremaining disks being spaced three and four units, respectively. Thuseach of the setting" disks is capable of a different degree ofoscillation before being arrested by engagement with the stop bar 19.The disks normally tend to move forward under the influence ofindividual motor springs 21, there being one such spring for each disk,These motor springs 21 are coiled about the hubs of the disks with oneend of the spring engaged beneath theistop 'bar 19 and the op posite endof the spring engaginga stud 22 projecting from the lateral face of thedisk. The tendency of the spring is to rotate the disk'forwardiy toadvance the stop lug 20 into engagement with the-bar 19. The disk isheld against rotary movement under the influence of the spring by meansof a detent or latch arm 23 which engages one of a series of ratchetteeth 2* upon the setting disk.

In the drawing the teeth 24 are shown arm 23 may be manually operated torelease the selected timing disk by means of a key or oscillatory arm 27shown at the right in Fig. 1; but is preferably disengaged by means ofan electromagnet 28. There is provided a separate detent or latch arm 23for each timing disk and an electromagnet 28 for each. detent.Theelectromagnets 28 are supported in a suitable manner upon thetransverse frame or supporting bar 29. Supported in suitable brackets 30adjacent to the upper ends of the electromagnet 28 are the tion of thelsetting disk is deterinined'by the normal-position of the stop lug 20and this degree of rotation in turn determines the number of rotationsof thekshaft 2 to be permitted. There is also formed upon each of thetiming disks a cam 32. The said cams are alin'ed one with the other whenthe disks are in their normal position. In the drawing the'cam 32 hasbeen shown formed upon a separate plate attached to the lateral face ofthe disk. Pivotally supported upon a transverse shaft '33 mounted .inthe main frame 1 above the level of the shafts 2 and 3 is an oscillatoryyoke or frame comprising parallel arms '34-34 supporting therebetween aroller 35* normally resting upon the peripheries of the timing disksadjacent to the cam faces 32 by which the rolleris engaged and elevatedupon the release of any one of the timing disks. Extending rearwardlyfrom the oscillatory swinging frame' or yoke is a sto arm 36 having alaterally disposed nose 3 normally extending into the path of a shoulder38 upon the lateral face of the clutch disk 10. The engagement of thestop arm 36 with shoulder 38 "of the clutch disk normally locks theclutch disk against the advance movement and thereby holds the clutchrollers 11 out of engagement with the driving head. Upon the oscillationof the yoke or frame by the elevationof the roller 35 under theinfluence .of any one of the cam faces 32 upon the release of a timingdisk, the nose or lug 37 of the stop arm 36 is depressed, asshown inFig. 4 and by dotted lines in Fig. 8 out of the path of shoulder 38,thereby releasing the clutch disk 10. Upon its release the clutchimmediately advances under the influence of the springs 12 or 15, asbefore described, to cause the operative engagement of the clutch,thereby causing the shaft 2 to rotate in unison with thev pulley. Theshaft will continue to rotate in unison with the pulley 4 until the stoparm 36 is again elevated into the path of the shoul-' der 38to' arrestthe rotation of the clutch disk 10 which will be thereby disengaged fromthe drive head 7. This is effected by returning the timing disks tonormal position, thereby permitting the stop arm to be elevated underthe influence of the retracting spring 39,

upon the return of cam 32'to normal. To re-' turn the timingdisk fromoperated to nor-- mal position the disks are provided with a pluralityof spurs or teeth 40 similar to the teeth of a spur gear or pinion.Carried upon the shaft 2 in planes common with the timing disks andadapted to engage the spurs of teeth 40 are fingers 41, one for eachtiming disk. The construction is such that at each rotation of shaft 2the finger 41 will pass in proximity to the timin disk and if the diskhas been operated the nger engages a spur or tooth 40. By its camminggear action it rotates the timing disk against .the tension of itsspring a distance of one unit or step. The detent or latch'arm 23 isthus enabled to engage the next succeeding ratchet toothteeth 40 willreturn the disk a distancev of one step or unit at eachrotation of theshaft 2. Upon the final return movement the cam 32 passes from beneaththe roller 35, thereby permitting the frame or yoke to oscillate underthe influence of the spring 39 to lift stop arm 36 into engagingposition, thereby disengaging the clutch from the shaft 2.

To insure the shaft 2 a full movement of its final rotation and toinsure the final arrest of the shaft in exactly the same position aftereach operation andfurther to effect the restoring or 'tensioning of theclutch springs 12 or 15 preparatory to the succeeding operation, thereis provided upon the shaft a shoulder spiral cam 42 fixed to the shaftand rotating therewith. Loosely pivoted upon the shaft 3 is a-lever 43carrying a roller 44 which rides upon the, periphery of the cam 42; asthe latter rotates. The arm 43 is connected at its. extremity to aspring 45 connected at its lowerend to the main frame 1 which istensioned b the ele- -,vation of the arm 43 under the in dence, of

the spiral cam 42. The cam 42 is so timed upon the shaft that at themoment of the engagement of the stop arm 36 with the shoulder38 and theconsequent disengagement of the clutch, the roller 44 will be 7 passingonto the shoulder or offset of the spiral cam {42, as shown in Fig. 4.The shaft being at this moment disconnected from the pulley, the cammingaction of the roller 44 and the shoulder of the cam 42, under theinfluence of the spring 45,. will give to the shaft 2 a slightadditional movement as the roller 44 travels down the inclined shoulderof the cam until "the cam "and shoulder as-.. :sume the position shownby dotted lines in zFi gifi. {Ihis' final. movement of the shaft 2.under the influence of the spring 45 acting ing the cam, and means forrestoring the cam by the operation of the main operating.

member. a Y

4. In an apparatus of the character described, av main operating member,a normally disconnecteddriving member therefor, an intermittentlyoperated clutch adapted to connect the driving. and Operating members,means controlling the operation of said clutch including a plurality ofindependently operated cam members each capable of a-diflerent degree ofmovement independently controlling the operation of the for, anintermittently operated clutch adapted to connect the driving andoperating members, means controlling the operation of said clutchincluding an oscillatory springactuated cam disk controlling the clutch,a detent for the cam disk, means for retaining the cam disk in operatedposition, manually controlled means for releasing the cam disk,

and interengaging meanslbetweenthe main operating member andthe cam diskfor actuating the cam disk through a retrograde movement at eachoperation of said main operating member.

6. In an apparatus of the character .de-

I scribed, a main operating member, a normally' disconnected drivingmember therefor, an intermittently operated clutch adapted to connectthe driving and operatingmembers, means-controlling the operation ofsaid clutch including an oscillatory spring actuated cam disk, aplurality of ratchet teeth on said" disk, a detent engaging said ratchetteeth to hold the cam disk against the influence of its actuatingspring,

means to disengage the detent at the Will of the operator a tooth orspur upon said disk for each unit of movement permitted said cam disk,and a finger operating in unison with the main operating member adaptedto engage a tooth of the disk at each operation to restore said' diskthrough one unit of movement.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, a main operating member,a normally. disconnected drivingmember therefor, means controlling theengagement and disengagement of thedriving and operating members,

including a movable clutch member, a cam governingsaid movable clutchmember, actuating'means for the cam, a detent for the cam adapted to bedisengaged at the will I of the operator, and means for intermittentlyoperating the cam through a retro- 4 grade movement to normal positionby the operation ofsaid operating member."

8. In an apparatus of the character de I scribed, a mainoperatingmember, a nor mally disconected driving member therefor, 1 meanscontrolling the. engagement and .dis-

engagement of the driving and operating members, including a movableclutch member, a spring actuated oscillatory cam member overning theoperation of the clutch mem er, a detent for the cam member disengagedat the will of the operator, means for arresting the oscillation of thecam member at the limit of the predetermined de-' gree of movement, alurality ofteeth carrie'd by the cam mem er, and'an-actuating memberadapted to engage a succeeding tooth of the cam at'each operation of themain operating member to restore the cam through a predeterminedretrograde movement ateach operation.

9. In an apparatus of the character described, a main operating member,a normally disconnected drive member therefor,

a clutch adapted to intermittently connect the driving and operatingmembers, and means governing 'said clutch including an oscillatory disk,a detent for said disk,

'means for disengaging the detent atthe will of the operator, means foractuating the disk in one direction-independent of the operation of themain operating member,

means for returning the disk under the'infiuence of the main operatingmember, and

means for limiting the disk to a predetermined degree of movement.

1 10. In an apparatus of the character described, a main operatingmember, a normally disconnected drive member therefor, a clutchadaptedto intermittentl connect the driving and operating mem ers, and,

means governing said clutch comprisin a plurality of independentlymovable osci a- 'tory disks, means for retaining the disks in normalinactive position, means forreleasing any, .disk of the series at thewill of the operator, means for actuating the disks in one direc'tionindependent of the main operating member, means to limit each disk to adifferent degree of movement, and

means for returning the operated disk to normal position under theinfluence of the operating member.

11. 111 an apparatus of the character described, a drivingmember, adriven member, means intermittently engaging the driving and drivenmembers, means for -'au tomatically releasing" thedriving and drivenmembers at the termination of a predetermined number of. operations, andmeans under the control of the operator for rendering the re-.

leasing means ineifectual.

